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Aviation vocabulary · Airports & Ground Operations

Jet bridge

Meaning in aviation, with examples

nounCommon term

In aviation, jet bridge means: A movable, covered walkway that connects the terminal building to the aircraft door, so passengers can board without going outside.

In Turkish: körük, yolcu köprüsü

How it is used

American English says 'jet bridge' or 'jetway'; British English says 'air bridge' or 'airbridge'. Ground staff dock it to the aircraft and pull it back before pushback. The official name is passenger boarding bridge.

Example sentences

  1. The jet bridge is not working, so we will use stairs and buses.

  2. Do not open the door until the jet bridge is fully in position.

Common collocations

  • dock the jet bridge
  • jet bridge operator
  • air bridge
  • pull back the jet bridge
  • gateThe numbered area in an airport terminal where passengers wait and then board an aircraft, either through a jet bridge or by bus.
  • standA marked parking position on the apron where an aircraft is parked for boarding, loading, refuelling and other ground services.
  • boardingThe process of passengers getting on an aircraft, from the first call at the gate until the doors are closed.
  • pushbackThe procedure in which a tug pushes an aircraft backwards out of its parking stand, because airliners do not normally reverse under their own power.

More terms: Airports & Ground Operations

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